Scott Brown nearly hung up boots before Celtic began long unbeaten domestic run

Scott Brown could go down in Celtic folklore after the game against St Johnstone on Saturday - but the Hoops talisman admits he might never have been part of the Invincibles' history. 

If his side avoid defeat at McDiarmid Park, they will surpass the club's longest-ever domestic unbeaten run of 62 matches.

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But the 32-year-old midfielder nearly left the club just one game into that run, as he considered retiring in the summer of 2016 - at the end of Ronny Deila's reign - due to injuries and a loss of form.

"For me personally it was coming close," he said, when asked if he had ever contemplated hanging up his boots. "At that time (end of 2015-16 season) it was a hard time for me I was going through injury after injury and it was probably due to me not being as fit as I should have been.

"For me, playing in a game, I've got to give it everything because that's the sort of player I am, and to go in 100 per cent when you're not 100 per cent fit then you are going to pick up injuries.

"The Celtic fans were on my back and I understand that because I probably wasn't playing as well as I should have done, but I like to prove people wrong."

Brown, like many of the Celtic squad, has been reborn under Brendan Rodgers and the player is quick to acknowledge the influence of the former Liverpool boss on his current good form.

He said: "As soon as Brendan came in, the first thing he asked was what I could do differently and I said 'I need to get fitter I need to get sharper we need to work on my intensity'.

"Pre-season was hard and for me that is what football is all about. It's about working hard and getting the benefits afterwards."

See if Celtic can set a new landmark for an unbeaten run by tuning in to Sky Sports Football from 12.00 on Saturday 4 November